AmyHuang
Kapas Island - The Resort
After staying the 2 nights in Kuala Terengganu, we got on a local bus and headed south for Merang, a small town just outside KT with nothing but a small harbour with boats to Kapas Island.
We always love a local bus. 4 Ringgits for the 35 mins journey each. Certainly beats 50 Ringgits cab ride we paid for when we got back 3 days later.... (even though the cab was certainly faster and easier!)
Anyways, I had booked for Kapas Island a few months back from our trip, after researching on the internet what else there is to do around Kuala Terengganu without having to stay in town (because let's be honest here - it really wasn't that great a tourist town, as friendly as they were, you'd just get bored) - and I thought I knew there were some islands nearby, why not go stay on one?
My own lesson learnt - I probably should have asked around first.
Well, there was nothing from the agency that was around KT, and so I was researching on the internet right? (as everyone does, even if I myself am a travel agent) and found a link to Kapas Island Resort. I had known about Kapas Island itself from the Rough Guides to Malaysia and it seemed to be cheaper than going to any other more touristy islands in that area. So I looked it up, the pictures on the website looked alright and the review it gave in the guidebook wasn't disastrous, so I booked it.
It wasn't until I paid for it in full did I stumble across a Trip Advisor review on the actual resort which said it was completely crap.
Well, the review was 6 months old - I calmed myself - it could be better now at least.
So the boat took 15 mins which wasn't too bad and we were taken to Kapas Island.
The Kapas Island resort is the largest resort on the island. Upon arrival we were promptly checked in and given our room keys and meal vouchers as we had paid for a full board package. Our room - a chalet - was basic, which normally would've beat any backpacker accommodations I've ever stayed in - it was what was in it that made it disappointing. Firstly, there were one double and one single beds, both with really old, dirty and worn out sheets with a damp smell. A TV that didn't work, air conditioning unit that made enough noise to keep the wildlife awake at night, a shower with one tap (cold) that sprays right over the toilet and the sink with no curtins or barrier.
At least at the backpackers they had working showers and clean sheets most of the time!
So ok, we were only in the room to sleep, so we set of to check out the large property the resort was built on. So it seems that all chalets were in the same runned down condition, but the actual resort grounds seemed pretty enough - until we spotted the 'stream'.
It wasn't a water stream, rather, it was a stream of decayed rubbish, black and thick running along the walls of the kitchen. Flies hovered all over the surrounding and you could smell it in the wind.
And then, a few more steps nearer to the beach a cart used for the lunch buffet the day before was piled with dirty dishes (still from the lunch before) and any left over food that was on it. It didn't help that we had fish for that lunch too.
So yes, our experience with the resort wasn't the most pleasant of all....
[To be continued]
We always love a local bus. 4 Ringgits for the 35 mins journey each. Certainly beats 50 Ringgits cab ride we paid for when we got back 3 days later.... (even though the cab was certainly faster and easier!)
Anyways, I had booked for Kapas Island a few months back from our trip, after researching on the internet what else there is to do around Kuala Terengganu without having to stay in town (because let's be honest here - it really wasn't that great a tourist town, as friendly as they were, you'd just get bored) - and I thought I knew there were some islands nearby, why not go stay on one?
My own lesson learnt - I probably should have asked around first.
Well, there was nothing from the agency that was around KT, and so I was researching on the internet right? (as everyone does, even if I myself am a travel agent) and found a link to Kapas Island Resort. I had known about Kapas Island itself from the Rough Guides to Malaysia and it seemed to be cheaper than going to any other more touristy islands in that area. So I looked it up, the pictures on the website looked alright and the review it gave in the guidebook wasn't disastrous, so I booked it.
It wasn't until I paid for it in full did I stumble across a Trip Advisor review on the actual resort which said it was completely crap.
Well, the review was 6 months old - I calmed myself - it could be better now at least.
So the boat took 15 mins which wasn't too bad and we were taken to Kapas Island.
The Kapas Island resort is the largest resort on the island. Upon arrival we were promptly checked in and given our room keys and meal vouchers as we had paid for a full board package. Our room - a chalet - was basic, which normally would've beat any backpacker accommodations I've ever stayed in - it was what was in it that made it disappointing. Firstly, there were one double and one single beds, both with really old, dirty and worn out sheets with a damp smell. A TV that didn't work, air conditioning unit that made enough noise to keep the wildlife awake at night, a shower with one tap (cold) that sprays right over the toilet and the sink with no curtins or barrier.
Our chalet - the pretty outside
And the inside - this does not match what was on the resort's website!
And the bathroom - I did not pay AUD160 a night for this!
At least at the backpackers they had working showers and clean sheets most of the time!
So ok, we were only in the room to sleep, so we set of to check out the large property the resort was built on. So it seems that all chalets were in the same runned down condition, but the actual resort grounds seemed pretty enough - until we spotted the 'stream'.
It wasn't a water stream, rather, it was a stream of decayed rubbish, black and thick running along the walls of the kitchen. Flies hovered all over the surrounding and you could smell it in the wind.
And then, a few more steps nearer to the beach a cart used for the lunch buffet the day before was piled with dirty dishes (still from the lunch before) and any left over food that was on it. It didn't help that we had fish for that lunch too.
So yes, our experience with the resort wasn't the most pleasant of all....
[To be continued]
well,i just come back from my 2 nites stay at Kapas island resort and it wasn't that bad...i checked in into this resort at nearly 7 pm cuz i faced some trouble on the land...nvr mind bout that...the staff at the receptionist was fairly friendly and helpful as she tried as hard as she could cuz the check in time was closed...i was a bit afraid cuz it's already dark with no more boat at the jetty and the worst,i was all alone by myself...anyway i managed to stay at this resort and it was quite wonderful to be there after all the bad commnt on the internet bout this place...the staff were friendly and some of them could just gave their smile(maybe because they didnt speak english)..but that's okay with me..i will come for the next trip for sure...